🇩🇪Germany

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The Ordinary and Estée Lauder are distinguished skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best, while the American brand relies on hydrating elements like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to nurture mature and sensitive skin. Both lines feature targeted options for acne, dark spots, and aging concerns. They differ primarily in their founding heritage and the breadth of their specialized ingredient profiles.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Estée Lauder products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder products

People Say

The OrdinaryEstée Lauder
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Additional Benefits and Performance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Nature's botox — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “included SPF 15 is ideal for mild sun exposure — Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturizer”
    • “stronger — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “watery — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Inconsistent Results or Formula Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
  • Pilling, Sticky, or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “tacky film — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Leaves a greasy film behind — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which is better?

The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Estée Lauder provides an Average routine fit. The products on this page offer better value and price with The Ordinary.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Estée Lauder?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit and better value for money with more targeted options for acne and blemishes, while Estée Lauder excels primarily in deep hydration and moisture. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient used across the products of both brands.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Estée Lauder, which has an average fit. Hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in the products on this page, helps maintain skin hydration and supports moisture retention.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers cleansers with a High Lovi fit for dry skin and dry sensitive skin, whereas Estée Lauder cleansers generally show an Average fit for those skin types. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder provides gentle and non-drying cleansers, while noting that The Ordinary has great value options.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary is more affordable, offering affordable and great value serums. Conversely, reviewers note that Estée Lauder has a high price point.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better choice for dark spots because the products on this page achieve superior or high fit levels for that concern. Niacinamide helps fade dark spots by suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Estée Lauder?

Both brands offer products without added fragrance, as every product from The Ordinary lists no fragrance in its ingredients, and 12 of the 14 products on the Estée Lauder page are also fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for oily skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for oily skin compared to Estée Lauder, which has a high routine fit on this page. Reviewers report that The Ordinary is better for acne and blemish control and offers better value and price.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for moisturizers because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin, compared to an Average fit for Estée Lauder. Additionally, The Ordinary offers high-value options featuring key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane without added fragrances.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while Estée Lauder offers a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary features gentle and non-irritating serums with zero fragrance across its products, whereas Estée Lauder has a higher price point and some products with strong fragrance.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit, whereas Estée Lauder only reaches a High fit. Reviewers also note that The Ordinary excels in acne and blemish control.

The Ordinary or Estée Lauder for mature skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for mature skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Estée Lauder's High fit on this page. The Ordinary products on this page often feature ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play